Equan frowned.
Why wouldn't he, every target he shot at... He never missed the mark.
"This is getting boring..."
He muttered to himself, looking down at his Vox.
Of course it said he was at Nine star output, he was only around fifteen and stronger than most fourth division archers in terms of magic power.
His potential rested at twelve stars... Which meant that no matter what... He was going to end up as a Paladin one day.
Once he had learned of his potential, his parents had rushed him into Phoenix Academy as early as possible, making him the youngest to ever attend the academy.
But at what cost?
He had seen hell, lived it, and breathed it in like the air of a hot summer day.
He had foolishly snuck out to fight a war that wasn't his to fight.
Archers were usually looked down upon in terms of raw power, as only one archer has ever reached the status of Paladin.
So no matter how good he was with a bow, his mother had always shamed him about it, trying to pester him into switching to a sword, or an axe, or anything melee for that matter.
He brushed his ebony dreads back, and knocked another arrow.
In frustration he fired immediately, completely missing the target and blowing the entire stone statue of his grandfather to smithereens.
"Damnit..."
He whispered.
That moment had flashed through his head again... When Leander had called him into his office once they arrived at the academy.
He had forgiven him...
Why had the old man forgiven him? Is what he asked himself every night since that day.
"Why...?"
It had made his death so much worst, to show kindness moments before you are killed in such a terrible way.
In front of all of the people who looked up to you...
There is no greater offense than to drown out the love you have shown for others with grief and rage.
Equan wanted to blame himself in some way, any way that made it easier to take the death of the only person that had ever earned the right of being called father by him.
He wanted to blame Chase... It had been his fool's quest to bring a group of inexperienced soldiers onto the frontline of war over revenge.
But even so...
They had won.
Chase had won, not without costs...
But he had won, and brought himself the honor that his clan deserved, and the respect that Chase had earned.
He was strong, no matter what any star output said...
Equan would never be able to take him in a fight.
'It's gotta be his spirit.'
He thought, noticing how Chase rarely showed himself losing the will to fight.
'Does he not ever give up?'
He thought, knocking another arrow.
"I want to be like that..."
He said aloud, steadying his breath, as he loosened his grip on the string, letting the arrow break the arrow that had plunged into one of the many targets.
"In this world... A single slit to the throat can kill the strongest human alive... So why? why did Leander let that arrogant fool kill him like that...?"
"Maybe because if he fought... He risked endangering everyone in the academy..."
Another voice said from behind.
Equan did not recognize the voice, but it was definitely someone strong who had snuck up on him.
Turning slowly, he went to grab another arrow from his quiver, until he realized that it was empty.
His eyes widened, as the man in a crimson leather outfit grinned.
He had some sort red stetson hat on his head, and a black cloth covering his mouth, but his eyes were what stood out most.
They were a deep red, almost the color of blood.
Then as if mocking him, he dropped a handful of arrows on the ground slowly, letting them roll out of his palm with no hurry at all.
"Who...?"
"I'd say call me bandit, but that's kind of a stupid name now that I think about it."
"Well they call me Actor-"
"No they don't"
The man scoffed, pulling a cigarette from his pocket, and lighting it the single snap of his fingers.
"Bow aint gonna cut it... Or at least not until you're strong enough to use one at close range in high speed fights..."
"I know that!"
Equan whined, tossing his bow on the ground.
"Chillax kid... We got time before it matters."
Equan raised an eyebrow.
"We?"
"You ever gone on a real adventure?"
He asked, exhaling smoke with a wistful look in his eyes.
"I've gone to war..."
He answered honestly.
"War aint fun..."
"Why would I go on an adventure?"
The man chuckled.
"What's the main problem with most archers in high ranks?"
"Clos-"
"Wrong! It's the arrows kid... You run out of arrows."
"I can make lightning ones."
"You can run out of mana."
"Then-"
The man cut him off again, this time just by holding up his finger.
"We are going to search for a goddess... There we can get you a set of arrows, that dare I say... Never run out."
Equan didn't know what to say.
"A goddess?!"
He exclaimed, mainly because goddesses weren't known to just be lying about in some mountain or cave waiting to be found.
"It'll take some time, but I think we could get it done before the bells of war ring again. Yes or no kid?"
Equan couldn't possibly refuse, then again he couldn't just say yes.
His mother would be angry if he just ran away, and he didn't know this guy at all, yet somehow...
The way his arrogant voice sounded... It somehow sounded familiar and trustworthy.
"I know what your thinking... Not actually, but I can see it in those eyes..."
He said wagging his finger back and forth.
"Don't go and trust me kid... Trust no one, I am a thief after all. As for your mother, she won't even know your gone."
'Who the hell is this guy?!'
Equan thought, feeling his heart race at the possibility of gaining an infinite source of arrows.